Cancer-related fatigue: Create a personal exercise plan

As a cancer survivor, you may be experiencing cancer-related fatigue. This is one of the most common symptoms reported by people living with cancer.

This type of fatigue is different from every day fatigue. It can be overwhelming, intense, unpredictable, persistent and severe.

One of the most effective ways to address it is exercise. Exercise benefits both the mind and the body, can improve your sense of well-being and increase your flexibility and strength.

It's important to remember that you can incorporate light to moderate exercise at any stage during treatment and survivorship. Even as little as 10 minutes of exercise can be helpful. It’s important to begin slowly if you've not been active for a period of time.

Try 2 minutes at a time and gradually work up to 10 minutes. This is called graded exercise. Here are a few key points:

Graded exercise begins slowly and increases in small steps.

It means you have a plan and you stay with it, even when you're having a good day and feel like doing more.

Increasing your exercise slowly allows your body to make the changes it needs to cope with activity and exercise.

It also helps your brain create new pathways necessary to create and sustain a new habit.

Exercise may help your mood and outlook in a number of ways, which may include:

Comments

The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.